Strabane take down the Derg in local derby

Castlederg 1-9 Strabane 2-20

MARIUS McHugh Memorial Park was the venue on Friday night past as Castlederg played host to their north Tyrone neighbours Strabane in an ACL Division 3A clash played in front of a large crowd.

It was the St Eugene’s who opened brightly with points via team captain Ben Harper and Cealaf McMenamin in the opening minutes. Sigersons responded with Oisin McGillion and Haydn McNamee landing scores from play to level matters.

The home side then hit a fine two pointer from a long-range free kick via the accurate Daire Corry. Strabane hit back minutes later when Jamie Hughes landed a fine ball into the edge of the square and Martin Mongan was in the right place to fist to the Derg net. Haydn McNamee added a brace of points one coming from a free kick near the sideline whilst the impressive Oran McGrath fired over a massive two pointer as Strabane stretched their lead.

The sides then traded points with Jamee Doherty on target for Castlederg whilst Oran McGrath converted from a free kick. With the interval looming, the home side fired over a point via Oisin Lynch with Strabane finishing the half strongly with free kicks converted by Martin Mongan and Oran McGrath as they went in at the break with a six-point lead.

Sigersons opened the second half with a point from play via Haydn McNamee with Jack Ramsey responding in similar fashion for the Derg. Oran McGrath added a further point for Strabane before Corin McConnell from a free kick and Oisin Lynch from play reduced the arrears.

From this point on it was all Strabane as they completely took control of the game. Kelvin Nelson sent over a point from play and Oran McGrath hit a brace from play with goalkeeper Eoin Haire weighing in with a two pointer from a long-range free kick.

Castlederg’s woes were compounded when they lost their full back Fintan Gallagher to a straight red card with less than ten minutes remaining. Strabane kicked on with Oran McGrath pointing from play and then finishing a fine individual goal to the home side’s net. Substitute Warner Mullen fast approaching his fortieth birthday then fired over a good point from play proving that he still has something to offer.

With the game almost over, Castlederg were awarded a penalty kick which Daire Corry duly dispatched to the net, but it was little more than a consolation score as Sigersons rallied with a further two points via Oran McGrath and Oisin McGillion to seal a comprehensive win.

Scorers

Castlederg – Daire Corry 1-2, (1×2), Oisin Lynch 0-2, Jack Ramsey, 0-1, Cealaf McMenamin 0-1, Jamee Doherty 0-1, Ben Harper 0-1, and Corin McConnell 0-1

Strabane – Oran McGrath 1-9 (1×2), Martin Mongan 1-1, Haydn McNamee 0-4, Eoin Haire 0-2, (1×2), Oisin McGillion 0-2, Kelvin Nelson 0-1 and Warner Mullen 0-1

Teams

Castlederg; Ryan McLaughlin, Andrew Crean, Fintan Gallagher, Odhran Harvey, Matthew Traynor, Conor Ramsey, Niall Gallen, Jack Ramsey and Cealaf McMenamin, Jamee Doherty, Adam Traynor, Ben Harper, Oisin Lynch, Corin McConnell, Daire Corry. Substitutes: Shea Leonard for Matthew Traynor, Denis Gallagher for Andrew Crean, Eoin Devine for Oisin Lynch, Paddy Porter for Corin McConnell

Strabane: Eoin Haire, Ruairi White, Oran Sweeney, Jamie Hughes, Ronan McLaughlin, Ryan McElroy, Joe Bishop, Oran McGrath, and Martin Mongan, Kyle Morrison, Daniel McHagney, Gavin Molloy, Kelvin Nelson, Oisin McGillion, Haydn McNamee. Substitutes: Warner Mullen for Kelvin Nelson, Oran White for Martin Mongan, Conall Flanagan for Jamie Hughes, Adam Duffy for Gavin Molloy

Referee: Andrew McKenna (Eskra)